Albert chester iyes



UNITED STATESl PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT CHESTER IVES, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

BlLLlARD-TAB LE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters .Patent N o. 572,545, datedDecember 8, 1896. Application filed March 11, 1895. Serial No. 541,339.(No model.) Patented in England September 25, 1894, No. 18,199.

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT CHESTER Ivns, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at 3 Adelaide Street, London, in the county ofMiddlesex, England, have invented a new and useful Improvement inBilliard and Like Tables, (for which I have obtained Letters Patent inGreat Britain, No. 18,199, and bearing date the 25th of September,1894,) of which the following is a full and complete specification.

This invention relates to the cushions of billiard and like tables; andit consists in certain improvements in the construction and arrangementof pneumatic or air-inliated cushions whereby the same are rendered ofpractical utility.

All pneumatic cushions heretofore applied to billiard-tables have beenfailures, owing to the fact that the balls when they struck the cushionshad a tendency to jump the table. Such cushions were also imperfect,inasmuch as if they were made large enough to hold the requisite volumeof air to stand the impact of a smartly-driven ball the height of thecushion was increased beyond the limit considered desirable. l

By my improved construction I obtain an iniiatable tube of a sufficientsize to give the desired cushioning effect under all conditions, I amable to reduce the height of the cushion lower even than that ofcushions made of rubber, and I entirely overcome the tendency of theballs to jump the table. I also obtain a cushion which is faster thananything yet made and is also unaffected by change of climate ortemperature, and this latter result alone is of considerable importanceand utility,for as my improved cushion never becomes hard from change oftemperature it doesnot require such care to keep it in perfect workin gorder as the ordinary solid-rubber cushions.

I attain the object of my invention in the manner illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, which is a view in transverse section of one ofthe cushions of a billiard-table embodying my invention.

The frame V, bed W, and rail X are all of the usual construction. Thebed W is made of slate or other suitable material and is cov ered with acloth Y, stretched over and fastened to a strip of wood y in the usualman- The rail X also is fixed to the bed IV by means of the bolt orscrew threaded into the nut w in the bed in the usual manner.

on its inner face, as shown, to receive the inflatable tube, and inorder that the position of the tube may be absolutely accurate with thebed of the tableit is preferably produced by a molding-machine of theexact form required, and it is then afterward cut in two to receive theweb b of the pocket B by means of a saw which leaves a space between thetwo parts just equal to the thickness of the said Web, so that when thetop of the block D is fixed to the lower part by means of screws, suchas E, the position of the inflatable tube is accurately determined.

Onto the top of the canvas pocket B, carry-l ing the inflatable tube A,is iixed the nosing or cap O. This cap is shown as formed to fit overthe upper surface of the tube, and thus partially to inclose it, wherebythe cap is firmly seated on the tube. The rear of the cap is alsosupported against a shoulder in the block. The upper surface of the tubeis thus brought very near the upper surface of the cap, which is flushwith the block, and the inner edge of the cap extends over the tube,forming the projecting edge against which the ball strikes. The cushionso formed is then covered in the usual manner with a piece of fiannel Zand cloth Q, the latter being xed in the usual manner by means of astrip q, itting in a recess in the top of the block D. The block D isfixed to the rail X in any convenient manner.

The fabric pocket B may be either woven in the form of a tube with theweb on it or it may be made'out of a strip of material sewed up, the webbeing formed by the free edges of the strip.

The air-tube A is provided iu any convenient place with a nozzle andvalve for inflatin.

As a modification I may make the inflatable tube A and the pocket B withits web b all in IOO one piece as a compound tube, and as a furthermodication I may make the nosing or cap O in one piece with the compoundtube A B, but I prefer to make them separately, as I am thereby enabledto insure greater accuracy in the size of the tube when iniiated.

I wish it to be particularly understood that I do not limit myself tothe precise details of construction hereinbefore described, andillustrated by the accompanying drawings, but that I hold myself atliberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within thespirit and scope of my invention.

I am aware that pneumatic or air-iniiated cushions have already beenused on billiardtables, and I do not therefore claiin such broadly; but

What I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

l. A cushion for billiard-tables comprising a tube seated in a recess inthe edge of the table, and a nosing or cap supported directly upon thetube providing a flush surface and a contact edge projecting beyond theface of said tube, substantially as described.

2. A cushion for billiard-tables comprising a tube seated in a recess inthe edge of the table and a nosing or cap surmounting the tube, having aconcave lower face conforming to the tube and a plane upper face with acontact edge projecting beyond the face of said tube, substantially asdescribed.

3. A cushion forbilliard-tables comprisin g an inflatable tube A and afabric encircling the tube, the ends of the fabric being laid togetherand confined between clamping devices, substantially as described.

4. In combination, the divided block D, the tube A inclosed by pocket B,having web l) extending between the parts of the block I), and the cap Cformed to seat upon and par tially cover the tube and abutting against ashoulder on the block D, together with the covering Q, the whole forminga cushion for billiard-tables, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twoWitnesses.

ALBERT CHESTER IVES.

fitnesses ROBERT C. PHILLIPS, T. F. BARNES.

